What should we request for dining?

[Bibbidi_Boo]

That is a big change! Especially because Pridelands night 2 will only be available on the Destiny, I can see that becoming a popular dining request for those in the know. Weird that Disney spent so many years trying to be "fair" about all cruisers rotating through the same menus over the course of a sailing and then just tossed that out the window.

Our server said night 1 Pridelands menu is better than night 2.

 

[lisset005]

You can request a specific rotation. If you get Palo, call and let the know you wanted to skip OPide Lands that evening. We have done something similar for our last 4 cruise and they have alwyas been able to accommodate.

 

[Mommb]

You can request a specific rotation. If you get Palo, call and let the know you wanted to skip OPide Lands that evening. We have done something similar for our last 4 cruise and they have alwyas been able to accommodate.

You can request that your rotation meet a specific requirement, but some requests might not match the possible rotations.

For example, on a Destiny, "Pride Lands on night 3" will always be possible (that doesn't mean the request will always be granted, but it's likely to be). It's possible on any ship to have a rotation with a specific dining room on a specific night, because there will always be a rotation that is assigned to that dining room on that night.

However, on a 3-night cruise the rotation with "Pride Lands, then 1923, then Marvel" would not be possible if the rotations on that sailing go in the order Pride Lands, Marvel, 1923. In that case, the only choices would be P/M/1923, M/1923/P, or 1923/P/M.

On a sailing of 4 nights or longer, a rotation with a particular dining room at least twice will always be possible, but a rotation with the same dining room on the first night and pirate night may not be possible.

 

[lisset005]

You can request that your rotation meet a specific requirement, but some requests might not match the possible rotations.

For example, on a Destiny, "Pride Lands on night 3" will always be possible (that doesn't mean the request will always be granted, but it's likely to be). It's possible on any ship to have a rotation with a specific dining room on a specific night, because there will always be a rotation that is assigned to that dining room on that night.

However, on a 3-night cruise the rotation with "Pride Lands, then 1923, then Marvel" would not be possible if the rotations on that sailing go in the order Pride Lands, Marvel, 1923. In that case, the only choices would be P/M/1923, M/1923/P, or 1923/P/M.

On a sailing of 4 nights or longer, a rotation with a particular dining room at least twice will always be possible, but a rotation with the same dining room on the first night and pirate night may not be possible.

I am just addressing the OP and sharing my personal experience. I know how it works and have had luck with Disney graciously granting our requests.

 

[holula]

I wasn't on that cruise, but I have been reading lots of reports. On a 5 night sailing, there is no pirate menu. Night 1-3 are the main dining rooms with shows. On Night 4 and 5, you get the second menu at each restaurant without shows. Marvel and 1923 are the same menus as Night 2 menus on the Treasure. Then Pridelands has a second menu 2. So only 2/3 of guests will eat Marvel Night 2 menu, only 2/3 of guests will eat 1923 Night 2 menu. Only 2/3 of guests will eat Pridelands Night 2 menu. You can find all the menus if you google... I never know what websites I can list here.

Ohhhh I might need to change my Palo booking then. I assumed only 1/3 of guests would get the second Pride Lands menu.

FWIW I just did the 4 night Destiny - Pride Lands was AMAZING and I hate Arendelle. There were lots of gaps between the music/show so you could have an actual conversation. The restaurant is stunning, and the second time in there you don’t have a show anyway so I’d actually request Pride Lands twice and figure out doing Palo on the first time with the show if you really do not want the show.

 

[Dug720]

That is a big change! Especially because Pridelands night 2 will only be available on the Destiny, I can see that becoming a popular dining request for those in the know. Weird that Disney spent so many years trying to be "fair" about all cruisers rotating through the same menus over the course of a sailing and then just tossed that out the window.

Yes - this surprises me. They usually don't do second unique restaurant menus unless every rotation gets them - hence things like Pirate Night, Prince & Princess, etc.

 

[Dug720]

I am just addressing the OP and sharing my personal experience. I know how it works and have had luck with Disney graciously granting our requests.

Your request when it isn't a rotation the ship has?

 

[lisset005]

Your request when it isn't a rotation the ship has?

After we secure our Palo reservation we call DCL and request to have the least desired rotational dining that same evening and it has always been granted.

 

[Dug720]

After we secure our Palo reservation we call DCL and request to have the least desired rotational dining that same evening and it has always been granted.

OK. But just to clarify... Are you asking for something like a certain MDR on a certain night? Because that's easily do-able as that MDR would be on that night for one of the rotations.

If you're asking for something like (on Dream Class) ARREA and if that doesn't exist as a rotation (I don't know the specific rotations currently), I am 99.9% sure that can't be done. Because it would mean you would be going to a different team and table - and thus forcing others into a different team and table partway through the cruise.

 

[lisset005]

OK. But just to clarify... Are you asking for something like a certain MDR on a certain night? Because that's easily do-able as that MDR would be on that night for one of the rotations.

If you're asking for something like (on Dream Class) ARREA and if that doesn't exist as a rotation (I don't know the specific rotations currently), I am 99.9% sure that can't be done. Because it would mean you would be going to a different team and table - and thus forcing others into a different team and table partway through the cruise.

We ask to be placed at the least favorite restaurant on our Palo night.

 

[Dug720]

We ask to be placed at the least favorite restaurant on our Palo night.

That is doable. Because there is never a night when no one is in that dining room.

 

[SL6827]

That is a big change! Especially because Pridelands night 2 will only be available on the Destiny, I can see that becoming a popular dining request for those in the know. Weird that Disney spent so many years trying to be "fair" about all cruisers rotating through the same menus over the course of a sailing and then just tossed that out the window.

Ok, what is the deal with getting the Lion King dining twice? And what is Let the Magic Begin?

 

[SL6827]

Does anyone know the current rotations for any or all of the ships now?

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

Ok, what is the deal with getting the Lion King dining twice? And what is Let the Magic Begin?

The only way to get the Lion King second night menu will be to be in the correct rotation on the Destiny. Not everyone on the ship will get it, and it's only on that ship. It's a departure from other DCL sailings where, over the course of the cruise, everyone gets the same menus, just not on the same night.

Let The Magic Begin used to be the way DCL made sure everyone got the same dinner rotation on 5 night cruises.

3= First menu x 3 dining rooms
4= First menu x 3 dining rooms and pirate
5= First menu x 3 dining rooms, pirate, and Let The Magic Begin menu
6= First menu x3, second menu x3 dining rooms
7= First menu x3, second menu x3 dining rooms, and pirate
8+ things start to get interesting and they pull out the menus less traveled

 

[SL6827]

The only way to get the Lion King second night menu will be to be in the correct rotation on the Destiny. Not everyone on the ship will get it, and it's only on that ship. It's a departure from other DCL sailings where, over the course of the cruise, everyone gets the same menus, just not on the same night.

Let The Magic Begin used to be the way DCL made sure everyone got the same dinner rotation on 5 night cruises.

3= First menu x 3 dining rooms
4= First menu x 3 dining rooms and pirate
5= First menu x 3 dining rooms, pirate, and Let The Magic Begin menu
6= First menu x3, second menu x3 dining rooms
7= First menu x3, second menu x3 dining rooms, and pirate
8+ things start to get interesting and they pull out the menus less traveled

I had no idea about any of this whatsoever. So it is really important for everyone to get the same menus and such? Is there like a menu that is more requested or the desired? Im planning a 4-night cruise, or maybe a 5- night one next Fall on the Fantasy, so I am clueless.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

I had no idea about any of this whatsoever. So it is really important for everyone to get the same menus and such? Is there like a menu that is more requested or the desired? Im planning a 4-night cruise, or maybe a 5- night one next Fall on the Fantasy, so I am clueless.

I mean, I don't know if it's *really* important. It is something Disney has historically done, presumably because they don't want folks to feel like other people got a better experience than they did in rotational dining. If some folks got to see the Animators show twice and others only got it once, I presume that would cause more complaining than just a difference in menu.

That said, regular DCL cruisers certainly have favorite menus and would definitely opt into rotations that featured some over others, if given the option. The second Lion King is going to be desirable, at least for folks to be able to say they've done it. If you've already been on the Treasure, then you're going to want to get into a double Lion King rotation because those are going to be the only menus unique to the Destiny. If it's actually a tastier menu than night two Marvel or 1923, then it'll stay in demand even after the initial wave of folks wanting to try it out. And, for that matter, there are SO MANY people who are new to cruising with DCL, don't realize what's going on, etc that I'm sure they'll be able to accommodate those requests. I can't fathom more than 1/3 of the ship being in the know enough to request a specific dining rotation.

 

[SL6827]

I mean, I don't know if it's *really* important. It is something Disney has historically done, presumably because they don't want folks to feel like other people got a better experience than they did in rotational dining. If some folks got to see the Animators show twice and others only got it once, I presume that would cause more complaining than just a difference in menu.

That said, regular DCL cruisers certainly have favorite menus and would definitely opt into rotations that featured some over others, if given the option. The second Lion King is going to be desirable, at least for folks to be able to say they've done it. If you've already been on the Treasure, then you're going to want to get into a double Lion King rotation because those are going to be the only menus unique to the Destiny. If it's actually a tastier menu than night two Marvel or 1923, then it'll stay in demand even after the initial wave of folks wanting to try it out. And, for that matter, there are SO MANY people who are new to cruising with DCL, don't realize what's going on, etc that I'm sure they'll be able to accommodate those requests. I can't fathom more than 1/3 of the ship being in the know enough to request a specific dining rotation.

Oh, ok, so the night two menu in LK is better. I could see that and not having the show on LK night 2 would also be a plus for myself as I will never enjoy those musicals with dinner.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

Oh, ok, so the night two menu in LK is better.

Sorry, I'm not saying it's better- I don't know that yet. I'm saying it's unique, which is going to pull people towards it in the early days. *If* it's better, then it'll continue being a draw. Maybe it stinks and then everyone in the know specifically avoids it and asks for a different rotation

 

[SL6827]

Sorry, I'm not saying it's better- I don't know that yet. I'm saying it's unique, which is going to pull people towards it in the early days. *If* it's better, then it'll continue being a draw. Maybe it stinks and then everyone in the know specifically avoids it and asks for a different rotation

Well there must be something good about it if its highly requested by those in the know.

 

[RedHead0186]

Well there must be something good about it if its highly requested by those in the know.

Very few people are currently "in the know" about Pridelands because the Destiny started sailing. I think a lot of people are requesting to have it twice because of the 'unique' factor-it's a menu you only get if you're in Pridelands twice. Disney people love a good exclusive/limited time offering, lol.

If you've never sailed DCL before, or haven't even sailed that particular ship, then I wouldn't worry too much about your dining rotation. You will get to experience all three MDRs and at least one of their 'featured' menus in each one.

I think sometimes social media, message boards, etc. make things harder for first time cruisers. Yes, there's a lot of great info but I think sometimes it can be overwhelming to someone who's new and thinks they need to everything they read about. Just go with the flow, DCL ships are great and you'll have a great time (not necessarily directed at anyone in particular, just a general musing I've had.